Display device.



0. L. SMTH. DSPLAYEVIL APPLGATloN HLBD IAN. zo, m12.

fnpmgmgyj 35% Eatented June 2, 1914.

xa g VA. l 1w a Y hr1-- jg z ff' l my' y w l fr@ r t 1 I 1 U fr) limmvm @waa/3%. wfz

o. L. srs/HTH. DISPLAY DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 20, 1912.

lPamanted June 2, 1914.

Immm

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

0. L. SMITH.

DISPLAY DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.20, i912.

3 BEEETB-BEBBT 3.

recense.

osoen L. sli/Inria, 'or onnnn narines, aronteau, nesten/on 'to samenst n. Yonne,

TRUSTlEE, 'OIF 'GRAND RAPDS,

nrsrnav envien.

.apeeneation of Letters atent.

lpatented @lune E, tete.

Application filed January 20, 1912. 'Serial No. @WAHL To all whom it muy conce/np Be it known that l, @sean L. SMITH, a citizen of the United `States, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and. lState oit ll/lichigan, have invented an Improvenient. in Display Devices, ot which the i'ollowing` descriiitionj in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a 'specification, like letters .on the drawings representing like parts. i

The .invention to be hereinafter described relates to display devices tor exhibiting Igoods, and more particularly to such display devices wherein a rotatable rack is employed for supporting the goodsto be displayed and is movable to and from a position within a case or cabinet.

'Economy of floor space in stores and like places demands that such display devices be made to occupy a `niinirnurn amount of area. lt is also desirable to protect the goods or merchandise displayed by the use ot an inclosingl case or cabinet, and in order that y the goods thus protected may be readily inspected or shown a prospective purchaser, it has been proposed heretofore to support the loods or merchandise upon a rack 1n0vable to and Irom a position within the case, and to mount the rack or rotative movement when at the trontof the case. Under these coiuflitious it has heretofore been proposed ina prior Patent No. 987,183, granted to me March 2l, 191i, to prevent injury to the case or cabinet. by restraining the rack from Jfree rotative movement as it was moved into and out of the case, but the rack was intended to be rotated byvhand when in outer position to bring the rack into such proper relation with the case, that is with the rack bars parallel to the back wall thereof, that: it could be moved thereinto without injury to the case.

One of the aims and purposes of the presont invention is to provide means, in the ,general character of display device noted, whereby the rack may be automatically turned into its proper predetermined relation with the case without. special attention on the part of tte attendant who is usually unskilled in mechanical matters and their operative characteristics, so that when moved into the case the rack will not contact with or injure it. This and other features of the present invention will more 'fully appear from `the Followingdescription and accompanying drawing of one form of means for carrying they invention into practical effect, it heir@` understood Ythat it 1s not confined to the particulars shown and described, but is definitely set forth in its true scope by the claims.

'ln the 'drawing:HFigure l is a` side elevation oi" a display device showing the case and the rotatable rack movable to and from a position within the case; liig. 9. is a detachcd detail of a locking device to be de scribed; Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional plan view of a part of the case and a carriage for supportin the rotatable nek, showing one forno oi tie present invention, sonic of the parts being broken away; Fig. ft is a section on the line 4-4l, Fig. 3; and Fig.l is a. section on the line 5v-5, Fig'. e.

The show case or cabinet. l may be of any usual or desired forni and character, but is illustrated as comprising a base and glass panels Q suitably supported in frances 3 joined together to constitute sides, back, and top, asusual in such devices.

The rack, Fi l, may be oi" any usual design, suited to t ie conditions of use, and, as one torni thereof, is shown as comprising the bars 4 from which garments or the like may be hung. The bars el., constituting the raclt, may be appropriately supported on the arms 5, 5 mounted at the upper portion of a sup port 6, Figs. 3, 4f and 5, which is itself sustained in suitable manner for bodily movement to and from a position Within the case 1. ln the illustrated form of the invention, the support 6 is shown as ay rotatable upright shaft and the arnis 5, 5 are secured thereto, and the said shaft is shown as rotatably supported by a carriage movable to and from a position within the case. This general arrangement is found to be a goed, practical and convenient form, but it is to be understood that so far as the essentials oi.' the invention are concerned the parts may be otherwise related, and the carriage, as well as the rack, be changed, the requirement in this respect being that the rotatable. rack may be so mounted that it may be moved .to and from a position within the caf-*e or cabinet.

Secured to the base of the ease and extendlll@ ldd

"g speelse ing,` from front to rear thereof suitable tracks 7, Figs. I3, 4 and 5, upon which ride the rollers 8 secured to their respective shafts or axles 9 mounted in bearings l0 and ll at the rear and front respectively ot the carriage l2, Figs. 3 and fl. The Carriage is preferably of a three arm shape as indicated in Fig. 3, and the shaitts or axles t) preferably rotate with the rollers S a" they more over the tri clts T, said shafts or axles S) thus con- 'stitutingl stable and etlicient means tor sustaining the weight. oi the parts and the raeli load. The tracks T may he apprtnin'iately supported upon the base ot the ease, as by means of the tie beams 13 to which they may be secured, and said traelts, well as the main body of the carriage l2, are preferably disposed beneath the floor le ot the case,; Figs. 4 and 5.

iising` from themain body ot the earriage 1Q is the flange l5 which extends through the slot- 16, Figs. 1land 5, it'ormed in the tioor of the ease, and has termed therewith the socketv portion 1 7 from which rises the sleeve bearing,` 1:3 for the sli it or support t3, The sleeve bearing may be connected to the portion l? in any suitable manner, but is here shown as screw-threaded thereto. A

Seated upon the bottom ot the socket por tion 17 is a ring;` 19. li'ig. el, upon which tr; vrel the anti-friction balls or rollers 20 supporting a flangeor collar 2l secured to the shaft 6, the construction being such that; the. parts described constitute a thrust hearing tor the shaft- 6 and its load and otiler little resistance to rotative movement of said shaft and. perforee the rack connected thereto, while suitable lateral support; tor the shaft t3 is aorded by the ysleeve bearing; 1S and the lower portion Q2 et the-estratta t5 where it passes through the socket portion 17 the carriage. The parts so l'ar destribed may Vary in torni and eintrat-ter as well as in their relation within the true scope of the invention, but as shown and described they constitute a convenient; and promtical term ot' rotatable*racl; and its` mounting permitting the raclt to be moved to and trom a position Within the case.

As liereinbetfore noted, the presentv inyoutton contempt-atesl means `tor autou'iaticaily turning the raol; into a predetermined relation with the ease, so that when bodily moved with relation to the ease,' the rack will not injure it. in Fir'. l, the rack shown in full lines as at the frontI position and turned partially around so that it moved into the case aty such time or whenever the rack is not parallel to the bach wall ot the ease the rack would strike and injure or breal the same. The dotted line position, however, shows the rack at. its position within the ease, the rack or bars l being parallel to the haelt of the case. @bifiouoly with .the rack in such parallel relation with the back of the case, it may be moved from front to rear position, or bodily with relation to the case without danger of hija-ing the ease.

@ne means tor ei'iiecting` the automatic uet'ion ot the racl; is shown by the drawings as comprising a member rotatable with the rack and a non-rotatable member secured to the carriage. la the form shown, the rotatable member comprises plates Q3 and 2li secured to the lower portion of the rack support or shai't t) so as to rotate therewith. [is one means to this end, the end portion 25 ot the shaft or support. ti may be m: le noncircular in cross section to engage correspondingly shaped openings in the plates Q23, 9st. rEhe two plates 03 and @et are separated bv rolls 2G, 2G, Fing. si, mounted on pins Q7 passing betweenv and secured to said plates at substantially ditmet'rieally opposite points. rlfhe plates and their separatingr and diainetrieally disposed rolls 26. 2G are suitably .secured in place, as by a nuty 2S threaded to the lower end et. the shaft G, or by other means it desired, and constitute, in etl'eet, a cam.

fivotally mounted at Q9, 29 to the carriage are the members or arms 30, Figs. 3 and d, the tree ends 3l oit which are adapted to engage the diametrically disposed rolls The members or arms i0 are normally under the induenee ot' a spring which tends constantly to nieve the arms toward each other into the position indicated by Fig. its one convenient t'orm ot such springcontrol, there is bolt 2 passed through the arms 30 and haring head portions 33 one at each end. Between. each ot the head portions and the adjacent arm 530 is a spring` Bt, one end of which is seated against the head 33 and the other against a suitable bearing o5 carried by the arm 30, the construction being such that while the arms or members 30 are thus normali held yieldingly iressed toward each othe`v and against the rolls 26 when the parts are" in the position indicated in Fig. 3, the said yielding spring controlling means permits the ree end portions 3l of the arms 30 to separate when the rael; and peritorce its eonneeted lo tating ineniher carrying the rolls 26 is rota ed. When the rolls 26 are thus carried trom the position indicated in 3 to separate the ends 3l of the arms 30 and are released from the hands of the operator, the arms 3@ at eige assert their automatic con-r trol ot the rack to rotate the rack into a predetermined relation with respeet to the ease, so that the rack may then bernoved, with relation to the case without danger or" injury thereto.

lWhile the members or' arms 30 are herein shown one convenient fori-not this feature of the invention, it isto be understood that the invention is not restricted thereto but tra igeeoai vis igeneric in character rvlthrespeet to theaubomatie eontrolof the raolr. to return it to n predetermined relation with the oase when such predetermined relation has been disturbed.

tithe rotatable member connected to the aolr to lrotate nere fith eonstitutes, iii ei rient; e carni, which., when the raelr is par .iittllly turned acts upon the non-rotatable member 'to more it against spring' tension, with the result that when the rack has been, turned moreor less' :trom its parallel rela tien with theease and released, the spring tensioned non-rotatable member7 Whether termed oi: one or'inore arms, acts upon the rotatable in inber to automatically bring1 the recit 'into tie vdesired predetermined pnal"- lel reartion with the back Wall oft the case;

i inltviiiehoosition i't'inay be moved bodily y if the rack at 'or toward its inner position With respect relative to the ease without danger of breaking; the glass or injuring the dese. f

'llt ineyqeolnetiines be' desirable to provide 'against possibility et l the rech being rotated by any extra tor-'ee applied thereto as it is being moved into the ease7 and While seine ineens to 'this end may be conveniently employed in` connection With the self right ing feature, it is not esseifit-ial 'thereto and .may Ior may-not be employed. fis one practical means to this end, the pins il? on which the rolls 26 are mounted are preferably extended s me distance below the louier plate or disk, 2d and constitute one part of a device to thus restrain rotative movement of the reel: While it is 'being moved to and from its posi-tion within the case. Go-aoting With the ends 3'@ of the pins 27 is a part 37, Whi'eh,` if desired, may be formed circular, as indicated in Fig. i2, and is provided with openings 38 diametrioally disposed to en gage the projecting' end-s of the pins 26- When the rack has been automatically rotated to such position with relation to or parallel with the case that it may be moved into the ease Without danger of injury to the saine.

n The part 37 is carried by an arm 39, Figs. 2 and 4t, which is pivoted to the earriage at et() and carries near its free end a roll 4l which is adapted to ride on the upper edge portion ofa central traolrway 42, Figs. et and 5. The tracltway 42 has an inclined end portion i3.

From the construction described, it will be apparent that when the raclr is rotated by the automatioaction of the rotating de vice into predetern'iinod position such that it will not Contact with the case 'when it is moved bodily with respect thereto or into tbe case, the ends of the pins 37 are opposite the openings 88 in the part 3^?, so that this time be moved inward to the ease, the roller ll will ride up the inclineiil portionr itl oit he traelovajf ft2 and cause'the openings 38 to engage the ends 36 oi' the pins 27, with the result that the reel( is then restrained :from rotative moven ment While it is bodily moved to and from a position Within tbe oase. It, however, the automatic device has not rotated the raolr in .suoli position that it Will not injure the case as it. is moved toward its position Wit-hin the'oase', and the rack be then forced in. Ward, the part 37 by -its non-periiorated portion Wili contact with the ends of the pins 27 and prevent movement o't' the rack to its position within the ease, and thus avoid injury thereto. As soon7 however, as the rae-hr is rotated to such position that it will not injure the oase as it moved( toward its inner position7 the ds oflthe pine Q7 will register with the olbenings 38 in the part Si', thus permitting the partv 37 to rise as the roller il moves over the ineline ,e3 and permit 'the rack to be moved to its inner posit-ion within the oase.

bviotisly, changes and variations may be made in the details and particular means described for carrying1 the invention into practical eieet with respect to the automatic rotation oi. the rack as hereinhefore deseribed,

and also with respect to the particulars ot' the means for preventing,1 rotation of the rack as it is moved bodily toward and from its position Within the case.

While in the illustrative forni of the invention the earn member is shown as formed by the plates 23 and Zland pins or rollers 26, and while the non-rotatable member .of

hewn as formed oit' two spring actuated arms, it is to be understood that the oem member may be otherwise formed and that the non-rotatable member may be constituted by a spring actuated arm or other device, the essentiels in these respeots being that such non-rotatable inem ber may act upon the cam member to turn it and the connected rack, when the latter is turned from parallel relationwith the back wall of the ease or cabinet and released.

lit desired, a spring 44 may be employed to assist in depressingu the end of the part 3T When the rack moved to its outer position.

the self righting device is s in operation, the doors of the ease, il." used,

may be opened and the rack moved to front position Where it may be rotated around and around in either direction through 360C to show the Lgarments. l/Vhen the salesman or saleswornau has finished showingthe `goods and releases the rack prior to pushingit luto the euse, the rack, iii not parallel with the beek Wall o t the case, will automatically right itself, that is, it will be autou'mtioally turned to hriup; it parallel with the back ot' the ease, in which position it. may be pushed back without danger of breaking the glass or injuring` the ease.

llVhat. is claimed is:

l., ina display device, the combination ot 3.30

a ieee-,Lise

a case, a rotatable rack movable to and from a position ivitliin the case, means a spring-operated device acting cally to rotate the ack to a prcdet position with reference to tbe cas1 n iz. "lie raclt is at its outer p tion. and a f acting with a part ot said autom( to restrain rotative movement oit die rac after it bas been automatically moved into said predemrinincd position as it` bodily moved to and from its position vv.

case.

2. ln a display dev" le. the comli-ination oi? a case` a rotatable rari-i movable to and from a position Within tlic ease, and automatic means tor tornino tbe rack into parallel relation Willi the case when said racl; turned trom suoli parallel relation and roleascd, said means comp ingr a cani mein ber connected to the rari: and a sprinf actin ated arm bearing' agaii said cam member.

3. in a display device, tlic continuation et a case, a carriage mombi@ to and from a po` sition Within the case, a rack movabliecvitli said carriage and mounted tor rotative movement5 and sgn'ing; act ated means to rotate tile rack into a predetermined relation with tire case tliat may not injui'e tl'fe Wlien bodily moved with respect there. Said means comprising a rotatable n'iember and a noirrotatable member. one f to the racliF and the other to the carriage.

e. ln display deviCc. the combinniitm ot a case, a carriage movable to and trom t pi sition within tlie case, a raeltV movable. 'ai n said means comprising a member rot: t: with tlie rack and a member on tlie carriage yieldingrly acting npon the rack men'iber.

ln a eisplay d a case, a rotatable rack movable to and Y, a position ivitnin tbe case, and automatic `spring` act ated means acting; nor :nilly to rotate the rael; into a predetermined i tion with tlie case that it may not i inte case vflien bodily moved with respec G. ln a display devise, tlie combi ot a case, a carriage movable to an i a position 'within the case, a rack movi with said carriage and 'mounted for rotative movement, automatic means actingl normally to rotate the racl' into a predetermined lation Witli the case that it may not inj re tile case when bodily moved ivitli repectthereto, said means comprisingT a member rotatable with the rack, arms pivotally mounted on the carriage and disposed at opposite sides ot' the rotatable mei' bei, and means to yieldingly torce the arms the rotatable member.

7. ln e, display device, tlie combination l i i i i l l l i i of a ease, a carriage movable to and from a cabinet, ot means for automatically righting the rack into a predetermined position relatively to the cabinet when rotated a partial revolution in its position and released, said means comi'rising a cam rotatable with tle rack and a noni'otatable member, and means tor forcing said non-rotatable member against the cam.

ti. The combination with a cabinet and a rcvolnble. lack movable into and out of the abinet, ot means including a spring actuated device permittingl the rotation of the reel; in its outer position and also act-ing, en tbe raclt is turned from parallel relation ivitli the case and released, to automatical v adjust it into its normal position relaifel v to the cabinet.

lllic combination ivitli a goods display racli, a reciprocating' ai-ringe and a revolublc staneard mounted tlicreon and supporting the racli, oitl tivo spring arms forming a guide and located in alinement With the line or travel of the carriage, and an arm on tlie standard iitted between said spring arms and acting` when the rack is at outer position and partially rotated to separate id spring arms. ll. ln a display device, the combination ot a case, a rotatable rack mounted for movement to and from a position Within the case, a

ging said cam. and means for yieldi forcing said device against tlie'cam cause the latter and tlie connected rack o turn to a predetern'iincd 'position with reto tlie case vslien tbe raelt is turned om said predetermined position and rei-. ln a display device, the combination of a case, a rotatable rack mounted for movement to and from a position within the case, a cam connected to the rack, a device engaging said cam, means for yieldingly forcing said device against the cam to cause tire latter and the connected rack to assume predetermined position With respect to dieV case when the rack is turned from said predetermined position and released, and acting as tlie rack moves to and from the po sition within tbe case to restrain rotation of the rack.

13. lin a display device, the combination 1am connected to the rack, a devicev momies tot of I:i case, a rotatable. rek movable to and In testimony. whereof, have signed my from a position Within the case, and means manie to this speeiication, in the presence of including :i sprilg device tensione@ by pnrtwo subscribing Witnesses,

tial rotation of"the rack and :Loting when. OSCAR L. SMITH.

' the rack is released to automaticaiiy turn Witnesses:

the rack into a predeterminedpositiou With "WARREN NEIL, relation to the case. AMELIA M'. Ross. 

